Memory game having rotatable disc means for varying the symbols displayed



Oct. 17, 1967 P. s. JACKSON 3,347,549 MEMORY GAME HAVING ATABLE DISCMEANS FOR VARYING THE BOLS DISPLAYED Filed Dec. 5, 1964 SheetsSheet 1 11 g' 1 NTOR. Philip S. kson ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1967 P. s. JACKSON3,347,549

MEMORY GAME HAVING ROTATABLE DISC MEANS FOR VARYING THE SYMBOLSDISPLAYED 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1964 INVENTOR 7 M 0 S k of a J.m PYW B ATTORNEYS United States Patent MEMGRY GAME HAVING ROTATABLEDISC MEANS FOR VARYING THE SYMBOLS DIS- PLAYED Philip S. Jackson, 5% S.Canosa Court, Denver, Colo. 80219 Filed Dec. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 415,772 6Claims. (Cl. 273-130) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relatesto games employing mechanical boards and particularly to an improvedgame apparatus for playing a game similar to the card game known asConcentration or Memory. v

Game devices or apparatus have been provided heretofore which make itpossible to play card games such as bridge and poker on boards generallysimulating a card table. Such devices have been provided both forsolitaire and for multi-player games.

The card game known as Memory or Concentra tion is played by placing allthe cards of the deck face down and spread about in individual randompositions. Two or more players then take turns at turning up a card andthen trying to pair'it with a second card, the

player keeping the cards if theyare a pair, but if they are not turningthem face down again in their same positions. Each time a player turnsup a pair he has another chance. The winner is the player who picks upthe greatest number of pairs. Concentration is necessary and observationof position and memory of the location of cards which have been turnedback bring success in turning up pairs as the game progresses. A fulldeck of cards is normally used although fewer cards may be used ifdesired. Substantial space is required for the game and the players mustoften reach across many cards to turn over one believed to be the otherof a pair. Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide animproved game apparatus for facilitating the playing of a game similarto the card game of Concentration.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus forplaying a memory game and including an improved arrangement forproviding a multiplicity of dilferent game settings or shuffles withoutrequiring separate parts to be inserted in the apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide a game apparatus forplaying a game of Concentration including an improved arrangement forshifting from one complete deal of the playing symbols to another anddif: ferent deal.

Briefly, in carrying out the objects of the invention in.

onevembodiment thereof, a game board is constructed of flat fairly rigidsheet material in substantially rectangular configuration. Concentricrings of openings are formed in the top board about a center near themiddle of the board. A disc is pivotally mounted below the boardandmarked with groups of different symbols which register with respectiveopenings when rotated into posi- 10 pair.

3,347,549 Patented Oct. 17, 1957 tion. A different complete set of allpairs of symbols is in register with the openings in each successive oneof a plurality of angular positions of the board and disc, the positionsbeing indicated by marks at one edge of the board where the edge of thedisc is accessible. The game is played by covering all openings withgame pieces similar to checkers, the players in turn lifting two pieces,keeping them if a matched pair of symbols appears, but covering theopenings again if the two are not a matched The features of noveltywhich characterize this inven tion are pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner ofuse, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will bebetter understood upon reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 isa top plan View of a game apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of 'the apparatustaken along the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the central disc of the appara tus of FIG. 1showing the arrangement of the game symbols.

Referring now to the drawing, the game apparatus as shown in FIG. 1comprises a flat. substantially rigid,

board 10 of rectangular configuration with rounded corners and arevolvable disc 11 an edge of which is exposed in a notch or recess 12in the right hand edge of the board. The board in the illustratedembodiment is formed with thirty-sixv openings or windows two of whichare shown at 14, the game pieces having been removed from theseopenings, the remainder of the openings being covered by game pieces 15shown as round discs essentially thesame as the pieces used in the gameof checkers. In this embodiment the openings are arranged in fiveconcentric circles, the four inner circles each containing six equallyspaced openings and the outermost circle twelve equally spaced openings.The openings in adjacent circles are positioned in staggeredrelationship.

The disc 11 is marked with a multiplicity of symbols or game figures twoof which, in the configuration of five pointed stars, are visiblethrough the openings 14.

The arrangement of the figures on the disc 11 is shown in FIG. 3, thesymbols being arranged in five concentric circles of the same diametersas the corresponding circles of openings 14 in the board 10. In theillustrated embodiment six sets of eighteen different figures each havebeen employedand thus there are a great many possible differentcombinations of pairs of each symbol.

In the illusrated arrangement the symbols are marked on the disc 11 inthree sets comprising eighteen pairs of symbols in each set. Theposition of the symbols may be determined during manufacture by placinga master disc j under a board or template having openings positioned inthe same configuration as the openings 14 in FIG. 1

and then marking or placing one set of eighteen pairs of symbols on themaster disc in random arrangement and so that they register with theopenings. The master disc is then rotated twenty degrees and another setof eighteen pairs of symbols marked in registering positions, and athird set is similarly marked after rotation of another twenty degrees.In this manner all the symbols may be located on the master disc in thepattern illustrated.

Thereafter the game discs are made from the master disc.

- When the disc is rotated to each 20 position under the board 10 asindicated by radial marks 16 about the edge of thedisc a full set ofeighteen pairs of symbols is positioned below cor-responding openings.An arrow 17 is provided on the board 10 to indicate the eighteen 20 Itwill be understood that in the illustrated embodiment the samearrangement of the symbols is registered with the openings, each timethe disc is rotated through sixty degrees, thus each third 20 positionexposes the same set of symbols as the starting position. However,because the position of the group as a whole is different with respectto the sides of the board the symbols are shifted from their formerpositions so that recollection of their actual positions is rendereddilficult, and the game, in effect, presents eighteen differentarrangements of pairs of symbols.

As shown in FIG. '2 the disc 11 is pivotally mounted on the board 10 bya rivet 18 or other suitable fastener which passes through the centersof both sets of circles. A heavier base or supporting board 20 of thesame configuration as the board 10 is bonded or otherwise attached tothe board 10 about its edges and renders the entire assembly more rigidwhile affording easy rotation of the disc 11 between the two boards andprotecting the disc from damage. The game pieces are of a largerdiameter than the holes 14 and are placed over the holes to conceal thesymbols, as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

When game is to be played by two or more persons,

all theholes 14 are covered by pieces 15 and the disc is t then rotatedto any position in which a line 16 on the disc lies at the point of thearrow 17 on the board. The first player than lifts two pieces,preferably one at a time, and if the symbols thus uncovered are amatched pair keeps. the pieces and takes another turn. If the symbolsare not'a matched pair the player replaces the pieces and the nextplayer attempts to match a pair by lifting two pieces and so on. Thewinner is the player having the greater number of pieces when the lastpair has been.

turned up. Accurate observation of the symbols which have been uncoveredand a good memory of their location are essential to consistent winningof the game and the game serves to exercise both observation and memory.

It will be understood that various arrangements of the openings in theboard and of the symbols on the disc may be employed and various numbersof openings and of symbols. An important feature of the invention isthearrangement of the openings and of the symbols on the disc so that alarge number of symbols remain covered during any game. Furthermore, bycovering the symbols of a completed game before moving the disc to a newposition, the direction of the symbols can be concealed when the disc isshifted between games. Thus it becomes possibleto play many successiveand interesting games with the one arrangement of the openings and theone. arrangement of the symbols on the disc.

The markings of the concentric circles on the board and of the straightlines forming a six-pointed star are not essential and may be omitted.When used they may have the effect of assisting some memories but ofhinder ing others and their presence may add some further interest tothe game.

Although the inventionhas been illustrated and described in connectionwith a single embodiment thereof, various other arrangements will occurto those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not desired that theinvention be limited to the details illustrated and described and it isintended by the accompanying claims to cover all modifications whichfall within the spirit and scope of the invention;

I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising a board having a plurality of windowopenings therein arranged in concentric circles, a disc mounted belowsaid board for rotation about the axis of the common center of saidcircles, means for selectively locating said disc in any one of aplurality of different predetermined angular positions movement and theposition of about said axis with respect to said board, a multiplicityof symbols on said disc including a plurality of different symbols andconsisting of a plurality of sets each consisting of the ing ones of thesymbols and each set having said symbols in a different randomarrangement, the number of said window openings being said equal numbertimes the number of different symbols, said symbols of each set beingpositioned to register with said openings to present different randomlocations of said different symbols in each of said angular positionswhereby the same whole number of equal numbers of matched ones of saidsymbols is in register with said openings in each position of said disc,and game pieces for covering all of said openings to conceal the symbolsregistering therewith.

2. A game. apparatus comprising a board having a plurality of windowopenings therein arranged in concentric circles, the outermost of saidcircles containing a greater number of openings than any one of theother circles, a disc mounted below said board for rotation about theaxis of the common center of said circles, means for selectivelylocating said disc in any one of a plurality of different predeterminedangular positions about said axis with respect to said board, amultiplicity of symbols on said disc including a plurality of differentsymbols and consisting of a plurality of sets each consisting of thesame whole number of equal numbers of matching ones of the symbols andeach set having said symbols in a different random arrangement, thenumber of said window openings being said equal number times thenumberof different symbols, said symbols being arranged in concentriccircles corresponding to the circles of said each set being positionedto register with said openings to present a different location of saiddifferent symbols in each of said angular positions whereby the samewhole number of equalnumbers of matched ones of said symbols is inregister with said openings in each position of saiddisc, and gamepieces for covering all of said openings to conceal the symbolsregistering therewith.

3. A game apparatus comprising a board having a plurality of windowopenings therein arranged in concentric circles, the outermost circlehaving twice as many openings as each being spaced equally in theirrespective circles, a disc mounted below said board for rotation aboutthe axis of the common center of said circles, means for selectivelylocating said disc in any one of a plurality of different predeterminedangular positions about said axis with respect to said board, amultiplicity of symbols on said disc including a plurality of differentsymbols and consisting of a plurality of sets each consisting of thesame whole number of equal numbers of matching ones of the symbols andeach set having said symbols in a different random arrangement, thenumber of said window openings being said equal number times the number,of different symbols, said symbols being arranged in concentric circlescorresponding to the concentric circles of said openings and theoutermost circle containing twice as many symbols as each of the innercircles, said symbols of each set being positioned to register with saidopenings to present a different location of said different symbols ineach of said angular positions whereby the same whole number of equalnumbers of matched ones of said symbols is in register with same wholenumber of equal numbers of match-.

of the other circles and, said openings center of said circles, meansfor selectively locating said disc in any one of a :plurality ofdifferent predetermined angular positions about said axis with respectto said board, a multiplicity of symbols on said disc arranged incircles corresponding to the circles of said openings, the total numberof symbols including a plurality of difierent symbols and consisting ofthe same number of each different symbol as the number of circles plusone, the total number of said window openings being a whole multiplegreater than one of the number of different symbols, said symbols beingpositioned to register with said openings in arrangements eachpresenting a different random location of said different symbols in eachof said angular positions and each presenting the same number of equalnumbers of each symbol, and game pieces for covering all of saidopenings to conceal the symbols registering therewith.

5. A game apparatus comprising a board having a plurality of windowopenings therein arranged in concentric circles, the openings in eachcircle being equally spaced about the circle and the openings inadjacent circles being in staggered relationship, a disc mounted belowsaid board for rotation about the axis of the common center of saidcircles, means for selectively locating said disc in any one of aplurality of different predetermined angular positions about said axiswith respect to said board, a multiplicity of symbols on said discincluding a pluralty of different symbols and comprising a plurality ofsets of symbols each consisting of an equal number of matching ones ofthe symbols, the number of said window openings being said equal numbertimes the number of different symbols, said symbols being arranged inequal spacing in each circle and the number of symbols being a wholemultiple of the number of openings in said board, said symbols of eachset being positioned to register with said openings to present adifferent location of said different symbols in each of said angularpositions whereby the same whole number of matched ones of said symbolsis in register with said openings in each position of said disc, andgame pieces for covering all of said openings, to conceal the symbolsregistering therewith.

6. A game apparatus comprising a board having thirtysix window openingstherein arranged in concentric circles, the inner four circles includingsix equally spaced openings and the outermost circle twelve equallyspaced openings, a disc mounted below said .board for rotation about theaxis of the common center of said circles, indicia on said board anddisc for selectively locating said disc in any one of eighteen ditferentpredetermined angular positions equally spaced about said axis withrespect to said board, a multiple of thirty-six symbols on said discarranged in concentric circles corresponding to those of the openingsand there being a multiple of six symbols in each of the inner circlesand a multiple of twelve symbols in the outermost circle, saidthirty-six symbols consisting of eighteen matched pairs of symbols eachpair being of a different symbol, said multiple of thirty-six symbolscomprising a plurality of sets of said thirty-six symbols, the symbolsof each set being arranged differently at random from those of the othersets and corresponding in position to said openings, said sets ofsymbols being arranged to register with said openings to present adifierent location of the matched pairs of said symbols in each of saidangular positions, and game pieces for covering all of said openings toconceal the symbols registering therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,265,497 5/1918 Parker 273-1342,545,415 3/1951 Podd 273-135 2,896,951 5/1959 Snow 273-135 X 3,195,8967/1965 Markham 273-135 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

1. A GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING A BOARD HAVING A PLURALITY OF WINDOWOPENINGS THEREIN ARRANGED IN CONCENTRIC CIRCLES, A DISC MOUNTED BELOWSAID BOARD FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE COMMON CENTER OF SAIDCIRCLES, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY LOCATING SAID DISC IN ANY ONE OF APLURALITY OF DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED ANGULAR POSITIONS ABOUT SAID AXISWITH RESPECT TO SAID BOARD, A MULTIPLICITY OF SYMBOLS ON SAID DISCINCLUDING A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT SYMBOLS AND CONSISTING OF A PLURALITYOF SETS EACH CONSISTING OF THE SAME WHOLE NUMBER OF EQUAL NUMBERS OFMATCHING ONES OF THE SYMBOLS AND EACH SET HAVING SAID SYMBOLS IN ADIFFERENT RANDOM ARRANGEMENT, THE NUMBER OF SAID WINDOW OPENINGS BEINGSAID EQUAL NUMBER TIMES THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SYMBOLS, SAID SYMBOLS OFEACH SET BEING POSITIONED TO REGISTER WITH SAID OPENINGS TO PRESENTDIFFERENT RANDOM LOCATIONS OF SAID DIFFERENT SYMBOLS IN EACH OF SAIDANGULAR POSITIONS WHEREBY THE SAME WHOLE NUMBER OF EQUAL NUMBERS OFMATCHED ONES OF SAID SYMBOLS IS IN REGISTER WITH SAID OPENINGS IN EACHPOSITION OF SAID DISC, AND GAME PIECES FOR COVERING ALL OF SAID OPENINGSTO CONCEAL THE SYMBOLS REGISTERING THEREWITH.